Sessions said in a statement released Friday night that McCabe was less than truthful while under oath several times, according to The New York Times.
“The F.B.I. expects every employee to adhere to the highest standards of honesty, integrity and accountability,” he said. “I have terminated the employment of Andrew McCabe effective immediately.”
In a statement Friday night, McCabe said his firing was politically motivated.
"This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and the intelligence professionals," McCabe said.
"This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and the intelligence professionals."
— Vox (@voxdotcom) March 17, 2018
Read Andrew McCabe's full statement: https://t.co/Bg5HEMhemU
The Associated Press reported Saturday that McCabe has kept memos regarding his interactions with President Trump.
In an earlier interview, McCabe rejected the allegations that he was untruthful during internal hearings, the Times reported.
“The idea that I was dishonest is just wrong,” he said.
“This is part of an effort to discredit me as a witness.”
McCabe is a potential witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign
Shortly after midnight, President Donald Trump tweeted about the firing, calling it “a great day for democracy.”
Andrew McCabe FIRED, a great day for the hard working men and women of the FBI - A great day for Democracy. Sanctimonious James Comey was his boss and made McCabe look like a choirboy. He knew all about the lies and corruption going on at the highest levels of the FBI!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 17, 2018
John Dowd, President Trump's personal attorney, told The Daily Beast on Saturday that he "prayed" that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein follows Sessions' example and brings an end to the Mueller probe.
Trump’s personal lawyer John Dowd hopes Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein will shut down the Mueller probe https://t.co/FQX1RfZNiv
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) March 17, 2018
McCabe, who had been with the FBI for 22 years, resigned his position in late January, but stayed on at the agency until he was eligible to retire on Sunday.
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